NATIONAL INTERFAITH CLERGY WITNESS AT THE NRA

"All the people of the Abrahamic faiths share the same duty - to protect the innocent. The Jewish bystander is to rescue a person in peril. Islam requires the protection of all innocent lives. I fear if we fail in this, bulldoze our churches [as announced re: the church in Sutherland Springs, TX] and let the machines of war and profit win over faith, then God will never forgive us. For that would be the worst sin of all." - Richard Parker, New York Times OP/ED, 11/11/2017

 

“When we fight for peace and when we resist the proliferation of military-style weapons on our street, and when we stand against the anti-democratic stronghold of the NRA, we are reviving the heart of our democracy. We must shock this nation with the power of love. We must shock this nation with the power of mercy. We must shock this nation and fight for justice for all. We can’t give up on the heart of our democracy, not now, not ever!” - Reverend William Barber II, 7/28/2016

 

Most individual National Rifle Association members own rifles and handguns for sport and self-protection. These are not the issues that are plaguing this country. The NRA leadership's main focus is helping gun manufacturers escalate profits regardless of the human cost and the spiritual welfare of the country and its citizens. To advance this agenda of greed, the NRA uses its money to wield political influence to control the current Congress.

 

As people of faith focused on the sanctity and safety of all human life, we cannot let this agenda stand.

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Therefore, on December 14, 2017, the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre, hundreds of us will come together in front of NRA headquarters and call on the NRA and Congress to:

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• Stop advancing an immoral legislative agenda that promotes virtually unfettered access to guns.

• Pass comprehensive, universal background checks.

• Ensure systems that keep guns out of the hands of people who should not legally have them.

• Ensure semiautomatic and automatic weapons and large-capacity magazines are not available for sale to the general public.

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The intent of this event is to gather for an interfaith worship service of faithful witness to mourn together and to call for moral clarity around the tragedy of pervasive gun violence in our communities. For 5 years since the Sandy Hook massacre, there have been direct actions, protests, chants, politicians, speeches, protest signs and more in front of the NRA headquarters. But there has never been is an interfaith worship service bringing moral voices of clarity and solidarity.

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​Our hope is to create a sacred and holy space as we remember those at Sandy Hook and thousands more taken from us through gun violence. We will bring forth the messages of our faith traditions regarding the sanctity of human life, love of neighbor and our mutual responsibility to each other to pass laws that will limit the destruction of lives, families and communities through the use of firearms.

Click here for more background information. Additional information coming soon on partner organizations, logistics and special guests.